Steelers ILB Sean Spence was forced from Thursday's preseason game with a right knee injury.

It's foreboding for a 2012 third-rounder who has yet to appear in a regular-season game because of knee issues, but Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reports the injury isn't considered serious. It's not the same knee that ruined Spence's 2012-13.

Rams guard Brandon Washington readily admits he is not a good patient.

“I probably was a pain in the butt for the guys in the training room because I was constantly bugging them to let me get back on the field,’’ said Washington, a second-year pro who returned to the practice field this week after missing time with a hamstring injury. “I did everything in my power and they helped get me back out here.

“I cannot afford to be on the sideline. I just kept reminding myself daily that you can’t make the club in the tub.’’

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Washington hopes to make his preseason debut Saturday when the Rams take on the Browns in Cleveland. Even while injured, he tried to stay as connected to the offensive line as possible.

“You can’t afford to fall behind, so you try to stay on top of things physically, mentally and emotionally,’’ Washington, 25, from the University of Miami, said. “But it’s good to be out here again, back with my brothers. It just feels good to get some reps and get a chance to compete again.’’

Washington, one of a handful of players battling for interior-line spots, was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the draft in 2012 and signed to the Rams’ practice squad that September. Last season, he split time between the practice squad and active roster before making his regular-season debut with 17 offensive snaps in the Rams’ season-ending loss in Seattle.

Jason Fox: “LaAdrian Waddle, an undrafted free agent, went right past him in Detroit,” Williamson said. “He’s not the pass protector you want on the left side, not the mauler you want on the right side. Not terrible in any area, but not a standout in any. I thought he would be better coming out of college.” The belief here is that the last offensive line job could come down to Fox or Sam Brenner.

Chris Perez (ankle) isn't expected to be activated from the disabled list until rosters expand next month.

Perez began a rehab assignment with High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday, but he'll remain there through next Friday. The veteran reliever struggled with a 5.03 ERA and 1.45 WHIP while walking 21 over 39 1/3 innings before landing on the DL earlier this month with bone spurs in his right ankle.

ST. LOUIS -- Having started the season with little promise of playing time and work to do to move up the depth chart, Jon Jay has recently become the toughest out in the Cardinals' lineup.

Now entrenched as the team's starting center fielder, Jay extended his season-best hitting streak to 12 games with a single in his second at-bat on Wednesday night and then followed that with hits in two of his next three to finish the homestand 11-for-19. He reached base another eight times by being hit by pitches six times and walking twice.

In three of the six starts he made during the team's 6-1 homestand, Jay was on base four times. His batting average has climbed to .313, which would rank as second-best in the National League if he had enough plate appearances to qualify for that leader board.

"Jon had a very good day for us again," manager Mike Matheny said after his club's 7-3 win vs. the Reds. "He continues to put together tough at-bats."Said Jay of his recent production: "I don't look at that. I'm just trying to help the team win games."

A table-setter atop the lineup for most of his career, Jay has emerged a run-producer while batting lower in the order this season. He returned to the two-hole on Wednesday, though that move was dictated primarily by Kolten Wong's absence and was one that Matheny suggested would be short-term.

"We needed someone in that spot. With Jon's ability to get on base, it fits," Matheny said of the lineup shuffle. "There's conversations that we've had about whether [having Jay hit second] would be a better fit right now, but if it didn't look like our offense was doing a nice job of clicking, it would be a greater discussion."

Wayne, a New Orleans-area native, was among the ones who got away when Payton was recruiting the area for the University of Illinois in his final year as a college coach in 1996.

Payton brought up that memory Tuesday when asked for his general impressions of Wayne throughout his stellar 13-year career and what he thinks of Wayne now trying to come back from a torn ACL at the age of 35.

It's possible that Wayne will make his preseason debut against the Saints on Saturday night, though that hasn't been decided yet.

"He's an extremely talented player," Payton said. "I know him a little bit uniquely because I was here in Louisiana recruiting high school players for the University of Illinois, C.J. and I."

That "C.J." refers to Curtis Johnson, the current Tulane head coach and former Saints receivers coach, who had a recruiting stranglehold on the New Orleans area back in those days. Johnson helped woo Wayne and safety Ed Reed, among others, to the University of Miami. Johnson also helped lure Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk to San Diego State, where Johnson and Payton first worked together.

"We spent a better part of a week going in and out of these schools," Payton continued. "I would say we got to about 30, 35 schools. Had I been just solo with a map, I probably would have gotten to 12. But Curtis would drive in, parking lot, back door, in a gymnasium, right to the coach, where normally you might go to the front desk and get a pass and go through all the correct steps. But that year, Reggie Wayne was coming out, that year Ed Reed was coming out. There was another good player coming out of St. Augustine High School, I think a defensive tackle, I can't think of his name. There were a handful of good players coming out. So I remember his recruitment, I remember hearing what I heard from Curtis and then over the years followed him.

"Look, he is very competitive. He's the type of player that could do that, that could recover from an injury like that. And he has had a great career."

I asked Payton if he ever beat out Johnson for a New Orleans-area prospect.

"Not while he was at Miami. No," said Payton, who remains close with Johnson and the Tulane program. "Every year there is great talent (in the New Orleans area). And one of the things he is doing so well at Tulane is identifying, recruiting, and those guys are winning their battles. It starts with the procurement of talent. He is very good at that."

Andre Johnson is "showing no signs of rust" after missing a chunk of Texans camp with a hamstring injury.

Johnson reportedly showed up "all over the field" during Wednesday's Texans-Broncos joint practice and made one "incredible" catch in the back of the end zone. "He's a big part of what we're doing here," coach Bill O'Brien said. The No. 12 overall fantasy receiver a year ago, Johnson's ADP has dropped into the late fourth round. His QBs were Matt Schaub and Case Keenum in 2013.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSISBenjamin left Monday night's preseason game with a ribs injury, but as expected, the ailment's minor nature allowed the wideout to practice as usual Tuesday. Given his normal involvement, Benjamin should be good to go for Saturday's third preseason game and moving forward into the regular season.

NEWS UPDATEHankerson (knee) will not play this preseason and is hopeful of avoiding the Redskins' PUP list to begin this season, ESPN Radio 980 in D.C. reports.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSISHankerson, who currently remains on the PUP list, says he's about two weeks away from being ready health-wise, so he'll be subject of a close decision to make Washington's active regular season roster. With the wideout still recovering from knee ligament surgery last fall, players like Ryan Grant and Aldrick Robinson have passed Hankerson on the depth chart, while offseason additions DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts have pushed him back even further. With that in mind, Hankerson faces an increasingly tough challenge to earn targets for the Redskins this season.

Houston (CBS Houston) – After not playing Saturday against the Falcons, Texans center Chris Myers his second straight day of practice Wednesday. The team maintains it’s just another day off for the veteran.

The Texans are in Denver, where Myers previously played, for a series of joint practices with the Broncos. Rookie center James Ferentz took every snap at center Saturday in Myers place. Myers, 32, started all 16 games for the Texans last season and has never missed a game in his six years with Houston.

Specifically, Texans receiver Andre Johnson doesn’t like the increased throwing of flags in the 2014 preseason.

“Watching the game last week against Atlanta, it kind of makes the game longer.” Johnson said Wednesday, via 610 Sports Radio in Houston. “It actually makes you hate it a little bit because every time you look around there’s a flag on the ground.”

Johnson believes that the officials won’t call illegal contact and defensive holding as tightly once the regular season begins. The NFL has said that the emphasis on illegal contact and defensive holding will continue. We’ll begin to find out whether the NFL means what it says when the Packers travel to Seattle to start the 2014 regular season in only 15 days.

Gaby Sanchez hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Pirates defeated the Braves 3-2 on Wednesday.

Jordy Mercer was on third base with one out following a fielding error by Justin Upton. Sanchez then lifted a fly ball to deep center field, allowing Mercer to score the winning run uncontested. Sanchez finished 1-for-2 with a walk and the RBI on the night. In 233 plate appearances this season, Sanchez is slashing .233/.300/.400 with six home runs and 27 RBI.

When you think of the football surname Irvin and the city of Miami usually the first thought that comes to mind is Michael "The Playmaker" Irvin scoring touchdowns in the famed Orange Bowl for The U. However, those memories might not be enough to keep Michael's nephew, Tim Irvin from Palmetto (Fla.) Westminster Christian School (WCS), in South Florida for college. Irvin told me he is giving serious thought to leaving Miami to play at the next level. In fact, he likes what the Gators are selling him after his July visit for the annual Florida Friday Night Lights Camp.

I spoke to Coach (Will) Muschamp and T-Rob (Travaris Robinson) when I was up there. They are funny guys, comedians. T-Rob is recruiting me as a strong safety. They said I can be the next Matt Elam. That's a good thing. Elam is a great player.

Irvin is planning to make his college announcement at the US Army All-American Bowl next January. His top five schools are Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, and Miami. Even with the Florida overtures the hometown Hurricanes are still a major player in his recruitment.

Everything is a factor with Miami. My teammate Jordan Cronkrite is committed there. When I go there it feels like home. I'm from Miami, I like the vibe of Miami. I talk to all the coaches and they tell me to stay home.

The two-way star said his parents and his other famous uncle, Sedrick Irvin, will help him make his decision. Sedrick was a standout at Michigan State and spent three seasons in the NFL. He is the head coach at WCS and began his coaching career at the University of Alabama under head coach, Nick Saban.

The Chicago Bears are preparing to make their first round of roster cuts this week, and a couple of the decisions that are being made in the special teams phase of the game are already leaking out.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, Pat O’Donnell, whom the Bears took in the sixth round of May’s NFL Draft, has won the competition to be the team’s punter. Tress Way, who struggled during the team’s first two preseason games, was waived by the Bears according to Biggs.

It isn’t much of a surprise to see O’Donnell win the battle to become the team’s punter, considering that GM Phil Emery has been very adamant about keeping draft picks on the roster. Last year’s draft class had every single player retained on the opening day roster, and it seems very likely that the Bears will keep just about all of their picks this time around, with offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. being the only one still on the fence.

At any rate, the Bears still have plenty of questions to answer regardless of which players win the position battles on special teams. Replacing Devin Hester is still a battle that needs to be won, with Micheal Spurlock holding an edge in the competition over the injured Chris Williams. Eric Weems was released over the weekend to make room for wide receiver Santonio Holmes on the roster, so it would appear that the team is confident either Spurlock or Williams will win the job.

Special teams coordinator Joe Decamillis has a lot of work to do over the final few weeks of preparation before the regular season, but with decisions already being made at punter and long snapper, he should be able to focus on getting his team ready tactically instead.

Cleveland Browns receiver Travis Benjamin sustained a rib injury in the third quarter of his 2014 preseason debut against the Washington Redskins. Benjamin was also treated for a possible concussion, but passed the test.

He did not return to the Browns' 24-23 loss in Washington.

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The Browns receiver-returner sustained a rib injury later in the third quarter after getting hammered by Washington Redskins' defensive back Bacarri Rambo on a play that resulted in a Johnny Manziel sack. Benjamin, who stayed down for several moments, was checked for a concussion, but doctors determined he suffered no head trauma.

Benjamin is listed third at wide receiver on the Browns depth chart, behind Josh Gordon and Andrew Hawkins, but Gordon could be suspended up to a full year for a failed drug test. Along with his receiver duties, Benjamin will field punts and kickoffs this season.

There has been no timeline for how long Benjamin will be sidelined.

The receiver missed the final eight games last year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

There are currently 90 players on each NFL roster and each team has to get down to 75 by next Tuesday and then to the final 53 a week from Saturday.

The undrafted rookie free agents are all trying to beat the odds because only a handful of them usually make the opening day roster.

Last year, the Jaguars had just three make it – defensive tackle Abry Jones, linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and long snapper Carson Tinker – even though they were rebuilding the roster.

This year, there appears to be only one undrafted rookie – wide receiver Allen Hurns – who doesn’t have to sweat out the final cuts although at least three others, tight end D. J. Tialavea, cornerback Rashaad Reynolds, and tackle Josh Wells, who’s currently injured, appear to have a shot at making it.

Hurns had one major thing going for him when he signed with the Jaguars after the draft. He was familiar with offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch’s offense because Fisch spent two years at the University of Miami as the offensive coordinator when Hurns was there.

The Miami native then got a rare opportunity with the Jaguars because so many of the receivers went down with injuries that he was thrust into the starting lineup for the first two preseason games.

Coach Gus Bradley said, “It’s unfortunate the injuries we had at wide receiver, but because of that, it creates opportunity. Allen Hurns got reps with the ones and you saw him go against our corners and he caught our eye and now he’s really catching our eye doing a nice job.’’

Hurns has made big plays in each of the first two preseason games, catching a 24-yarder against Tampa Bay and a 45-yarder on the final play of the first half in Chicago.

For the two games, he has leads the team in catches (six), receiving yardage (117), average per catch (19. 5 yards) and longest catch (45).

Bradley said, “Sometimes with these rookies, you’re looking for the maturity level. You’re looking for how they grasp the offense. How well do they come into a whole new environment, how well do they compete? And it seemed like he was ahead of the curve and he was intriguing.’’

He then impressed the coaches with his play on the field.

Bradley said his reaction “Wow, this kid’s got some talent.’’

Bradley added, “By the end of the OTAs [organized team activities], he was almost like a diamond in the rough. He’s done some pretty good things and he’s really taking advantage of his opportunities. I think a big thing is that he can play multiple [receiver] positions.’’

Wide receiver coach Jerry Sullivan said, “He’s got great football IQ. He’s very coachable and faster than you think. He has strong hands, a tough kid, blocker and he’s getting better as a route runner.’’

When Sullivan was asked about his potential, he said, “Potential isn’t any good unless you’re doing it and he’s doing it.’’

Of his thoughts when he first saw him, Sullivan said, “I never get into a lot of prejudgment. I just kind of watch them and see what they do. How they respond. You can get into over judging guys and who’s supposed to do this and that. I just watch and see what they can do. He has a real inner urgency into wanting to excel. He’s very calm and listens to what you have to say and then tries to implement it. That coachability is so important.’’

Hurns has also impressed his fellow wide receivers.

Cecil Shorts said, “He’s very smart, a hard worker, very humble. He understands what he needs to get done and does it. He has a hunger to get better. He has improved tremendously from when he first got there.’’

Kerry Taylor said it helped that Hurns spent two years in the offense in Miami so he could concentrate on the challenge of learning techniques when he arrived in Jacksonville.

“He has all the physical tools. He’s real coachable. He does everything the coaches ask of him. When you have all those tools and work hard, you can do everything,’’ Taylor said.

And Hurns has good rapport with QB Chad Henne.

“I really like him,’’ Henne said. “He’s been in this offense for three years [counting the two in Miami]. He’s coming into his own. He runs routes, is quarterback friendly. He understands where to be in the right situations. He’s made some really big plays this preseason, so we keep pushing him along and getting him better each and every day. If he’s there for the taking, we give him the ball. He’s very good getting off press coverage and getting open for the quarterback.’’

At Miami last year, he was named the team’s MVP as he played in 13 games, started 11 an caught 63 passes for 1162 yards.

But he was had some injury issues in college, including tearing the labrum in both shoulders, and he’s not a speed burner. He was invited to the combine and labeled a late round pick, but wound up getting bypassed in the draft.

He said the snub was “very devastating’’ but he said it “gave me motivation and kept me humble.’’

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller is entering his third season in the NFL after a successful college career at the University of Miami.

Miller has shown that he has the skill and ability to thrive as a running back is poised for a big year in the Dolphins new offense run by Bill Lazor. He has continued to be involved in the South Florida community throughout his young career and recently volunteered his time to help out at Zoo Miami.

Despite having a childhood fear of animals, Miller enjoyed his time at the zoo meeting lots of new friends and even conquering his fear and feeding some of the exotic creatures that call Zoo Miami home.

During his visit, Miller was joined by CBS Miami’s Rhiannon Ally and discussed everything from his time working at the zoo to the upcoming Dolphins season and the expectations that he is could be on the verge of a breakout year. Miller grew up in South Florida and is very grateful that he has the opportunity to play in his hometown.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields broke in to the top 100 on ESPN's #NFLRank project, but just barely.

It remains to be seen how many cornerbacks will check in higher than Shields as the rest of the list is unveiled over the next two weeks. The fifth-year cornerback was No. 95 on the list of top defensive players in the league as polled by 85 ESPN NFL contributors, including all 32 NFL Nation reporters.

But the four-year, $39 million contract he signed as a free agent in March suggests the Packers expect him to be even better than that.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, since Shields' rookie season of 2010, no player has more postseason interceptions than he does (four).

This is the second year of this ESPN project, and Shields did not make the top 100 last year. Over the next two weeks, the list of players will be revealed 10 at a time. The Packers did not have any players in the 91-100 category on the offensive side of the ball.

There's no shortage of poor personnel decisions that led the New York Giants to last year's 7-9 record and their subsequent roster rebuild, but signing safety Antrel Rolle to a five-year, $37 million contract in 2010 was among the better moves in recent franchise history.

We've ranked every player in the NFL -- a top 100 on offense and another on defense -- and we're rolling out the results 20 at a time (10 on offense, 10 on defense) per day. Today brings us players No. 81-90 on either side of the ball, and Rolle checking in at No. 83 on defense offers a chance to reflect on just what he's turned out to be for the Giants.

Rolle is the No. 13-ranked safety and the No. 25-ranked defensive back on this list, but quibbling about whether he should be ranked ahead of Donte Whitner on the former list or Johnathan Joseph on the latter doesn't interest me too much. Rolle's value to the Giants has been diverse and significant, and it rises beyond stats and on-field performance.

Rolle arrived in New York at the age of 27 and chafed under coach Tom Coughlin's rigid, old-school structure. But he grew quickly, and he and Coughlin proved wise enough to realize they could be of great benefit to each other. Over the past three seasons Rolle has developed as a team leader, captain and spokesman, and he handles the role gracefully and naturally. Sure, he says crazy things on the radio sometimes. But these days they're almost always about how great he thinks his team is, and that's a perfectly acceptable method for a leader to try to keep his teammates in a productive frame of mind.

On the field, Rolle has played opposite three different starting safeties the past three years, and all three have flourished. He teamed with Kenny Phillips (who predated and helped mentor him as a Giant) in the Super Bowl season of 2011. Stevie Brown replaced an injured Phillips in 2012 and collected eight interceptions, roaming the post safety position while Rolle played up in the box because he knew how and Brown hadn't learned it yet. Will Hill replaced an injured Brown in 2013 and became one of the best playmaking safeties in the league by season's end before smoking himself out of a job this spring.

Rolle has been a constant in a Giants secondary that's seen its share of ups and downs over the past four years. And last year, largely freed from the nickel corner responsibilities he willingly assumed so often early in his Giants career, he flourished as a playmaker in his own right and earned a Pro Bowl trip to Hawaii. His coaches say he's just coming into his own as a safety, at age 31, because this is the first time since he signed with the Giants that he's been able to focus on the position exclusively. They believe he'll get the best out of his former Cardinals teammate Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, one of their big free-agent cornerback signings, and Rolle has a track record that backs up that belief.

One of the best 100 defensive players in the NFL? Nobody in the Giants' building would disagree. Rolle's as solid an acquisition as any they've made over the past 10 years.

The Washington Redskins played against the Browns on Monday night football and that game saw the defensive backs for the team pay remembrance and support for Michael Brown and Ferguson, Missouri, as Brandon Meriweather and his group of players came out pregame through the tunnel with their hands up at FedEx Field.

According to USA Today and CBS, Meriweather organized the move and not the team (Dan Snyder and the Redskins have enough on their plate) and along with his defensive backs, the players raised their hands, which is a rallying move that has been going on in Ferguson after Brown allegedly had his hands up when he was murdered in the street by a white police officer.

Meriweather said after the game that it was the players' idea and that he wanted to show "support" about what is going on.

"We just want to show our supporters what's going on in St. Louis," Meriweather said. "We just wanted to show support."

"That could have been any one of us," said free safety Ryan Clark. "That could have been any one of our brothers, our cousins... When you get an opportunity to make a statement, and be more than a football player, it's good."

Panthers tight end Greg Olsen returned to the practice field Tuesday after missing a week due to a sore calf muscle, according to the Associated Press' Steve Reed. Olsen did not play in the Panthers' second preseason game last weekend. Olsen is one of the only veteran receiving options on the Panthers' roster going into 2014, as Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell both left the team in the offseason.

Fantasy Analysis:Olsen is an intriguing value prospect since he is being taken on average as the eighth TE in fantasy drafts. So it's good news that the calf issue turned out to be minor. Dealing with a squad of unproven, young receivers, expect QB Cam Newton to look Olsen's way early and often this season, particularly in the red zone. Olsen can be taken in most drafts with a ninth-round pick, and he stands as one most promising "sleeper" TEs with that kind of ADP.

Ryan Braun had an RBI double and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jays.

Braun had one of the Brewers' seven doubles on the night, his only hit in four at-bats. It gave him his 70th RBI of the season, seventh-most in the National League. The outfielder has struggled in August as his thumb continues to bother him, and he owns a .275/.327/.482 line on the year.

Center fielder Jon Jay is hitting .400 in August, so moving him up in the lineup might be a good idea. Jay is 13 for 28 (.464) in has last 10 games and has boosted his season average to .304 — second only to Matt Adams (.311) on the team.

Matt Holliday looked fresh Monday (2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored) after taking Sunday off to rest nagging knee soreness.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Reggie Wayne opened up to Eyewitness Sports about returning to the field this year after last year's injury to his ACL.

He said the biggest motivating factor to work through the injury was his son.

"Reggie Junior came up to me and he said, 'Daddy, so are you going to play football again? Is this it?' I told him, 'No, man. Dad's gonna be out there next season. Dad will be just like you've seen him since you've been born.' That alone was motivation because at the end of that, he said, 'Good, 'cuz I want to see you play.' So that was motivation for me to go out there with the team and play, just so my kids can see it. I didn't want the last thing for them to see was me being helped off the field."

EAST RUTHERFORD – While the offense continues to try and keep the sky from falling, the defense has gotten some good news: Jon Beason is still on track for the season-opener, and is still pushing to get some snaps in the preseason.

The news is pretty remarkable given that Beason, who as also recovered from a ruptured Achilles and microfracture surgery, continues to fend off serious issues to stay on the field.

"I think so, I feel pretty good, man. I'm going through the progressions," Beason said when asked if he would play against Detroit. "Today should be pretty aggressive getting after it and doing some things based off reaction as opposed to anticipation, which is what we do on defense."

Beason said he doesn't necessarily need to practice, which makes sense given that he's basically run the positional meetings since his arrival last year. He said he'll be confident enough to tell the training staff when he'll be ready.

Beason will wear a larger shoe to fit in some of his custom orthotics, which should help keep the injured area from enduring too much stress. He wants to take his final tests on turf in order to convince himself he is ready. Beason sustained the injury on the Giants' indoor turf field and the team plays a majority of their games on the artificial surface this year.

"I feel like I'm really close, but I have to go out and do it and I want to test it, that's going to confirm it for me," he said. "Obviously, we play a lot of games on turf. Turf is more rigid than grass, so it's going to feel really good on grass. In my opinion, we should only play football on grass, you do yourself a huge service later on."

He is just happy to have the chance to play in a preseason game, though the training staff will likely advise against it because Beason does not need the reps. Sustaining a serious injury at this point in the preseason could be catastrophic for the team.

"Going into it, to have the opportunity to play in the last few preseason games was really the goal," he said. "Whether you do or you don't, because that is not my decision, they might say 'hey, it's not worth risking it to go out and play against the Jets or the Patriots,' but you have the opportunity and that is great."

INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the biggest question marks still remaining with the Indianapolis Colts is: How will receiver Reggie Wayne look when he plays in a game?

The other question is: When will Wayne play in a game?

There’s no answer to either one of those questions yet.

Wayne has said a number of times during training camp that he wants the first tackle on his surgically repaired knee to be in a preseason game. With that said, you have to believe Wayne will play in Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Saints because the starters are expected to get extensive playing time in the first half.

“There’s a possibility,” coach Chuck Pagano said when asked if Wayne will play against the Saints. “We’re managing that thing and keeping a close eye on him. From a physical standpoint, make sure there’s not too much wear and tear on that knee early on and coming back and all those things. We’re going to monitor him this week and see how he goes. If things go according to plan, there’s a possibility there, but again, we’ll make sure he’s ready for action.”

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSISPerez will throw one inning with Rancho Cucamonga, and that may end up being the extent of his rehab assignment. He's eligible to return from the DL on Tuesday, though the Dodgers could choose to wait an extra day to afford him some additional recovery time following Monday's outing.

ST. LOUIS -- In what almost qualifies as a news flash these days, Cardinals out fielder Jon Jay was not hit by a pitch Sunday. His body certainly could use a respite after being plunked five times in the previous four days.

In another development that hardly qualifies as a news flash these days, Jay delivered another big hit for the Cardinals on Sunday. His two-run single was the key blow in a four-run first inning that started the Cardinals on the way to a 5-0 lead that ended up a 7-6 victory over the Padres. Jay's two first-inning RBI came three days after he came through with a two-run double in the eighth inning that turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 victory over San Diego.

Thanks in no small part to Jay, the Cardinals won three out of four against the Padres to take some momentum into a three-game series against the struggling Reds, who were swept in a doubleheader at Colorado and dropped 8 1/2 games out of first place. On a day when Trevor Rosenthal threatened to blow a three-run lead for the Cardinals, Reds closer Aroldis Chapman walked the first four Rockies he faced and the Reds blew a four-run lead in the ninth to lose, 10-9. A 10-5 loss in the second game sends Cincinnati to Busch Stadium with seven losses in their past nine games.

The Cardinals still trail the first-place Brewers by three games but have built a 2 1/2-game lead on third-place Pittsburgh and a 5 1/2-game cushion on fourth-place Cincinnati.

Jay has done his part in helping the Cardinals to a strong start in a weeklong homestand.

After adding a seventh-inning single, Jay upped his batting average to .500 during a season-best, nine-game hitting streak in which he has driven in nine runs and scored eight. The career .294 hitter also raised his average for the season to .304, just four points behind team leader Matt Adams. Thanks in part to the HBPs, Jay has improved his on-base percentage to .372, just four points behind team leader Matt Carpenter.

For a guy who was supposed to have lost his job last offseason, the University of Miami's proudest alum is doing pretty darn well.

"He's having a nice year," manager Mike Matheny said Sunday. "Just look at what he's been able to do. I like the way he's going about it defensively, too."

No one seems overly bothered that Jay is getting hit almost as often as he is delivering hits. He has moved into the major-league lead with 14 HBPs this season, giving him an NL-most 43 over the past three seasons.

"He doesn't do a lot of bailing out when the ball comes at him," Matheny said. "Jon stays in there and takes it, not that he's leaning over the plate. But if they miss in at him, he's going to go ahead and wear it. They keep missing more on him than anybody else."

Added Jay: "Guys are going to throw inside to try to get me out. Sometimes they're going to miss inside. It's part of it. It's not a big deal to me. There's no secret or anything, and it's not like I'm trying to go up there and get hit by a pitch."

He was smiling as he talked, more pleased to be getting on base than perturbed by any pain he has absorbed. As he pointed out, the errant pitches have hit him on the lower half, where there is considerably more padding than the rest of the body.

Don't look for the lefty hitter to back off the plate or change his approach in the batter's box. He says getting plunked has been part of his game since his days at The U and he understands it is part of the hazards of a high OBP.

"I don't change. I'm going to keep doing the same things I always do," he said. "Just stay in there and have a good at-bat, try to let the ball get deep."Positive -- though sometimes painful -- things will happen, based on recent results.

(SAN DIEGO) August 1, 2014 - ALTITTUDE Sky Lounge at the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, along with Yasmani Grandal, catcher for the San Diego Padres, will host Masq Madness, a glamourous black tie affair, on Saturday, August 30th beginning at 9 p.m. Proceeds from this enchanting event will benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation.

"I wanted to give back to the large military population of San Diego because they are such great fans and have sacrificed so much for our country," said Yasmani Grandal. "It gives me great satisfaction knowing that the Gary Sinise Foundation is helping wounded veterans and their families within the community of San Diego."

Guests will enjoy a night of mystery and secrets as they dance into the night under the concealment of an elegant mask. The event will include appearances by Yasmani Grandal as well as a silent auction of prestigious items to benefit the Gary Sinise Foundation. Cocktails will be flowing throughout the night as guests indulge in array of hor d'oeuvres and decadent desserts.

"This masquerade ball will be the black tie affair of the season," said Jim Durbin, general manager of San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter. "We are thrilled to be hosting this event with Yasmani Grandal and raising money for a great cause."

Tickets to Masq Madness are available to guests 21+ and are priced at $130, which includes two complimentary cocktails, hor d'oeuvres and a decadent dessert bar. Tickets can be purchased online at www.MasqMadness.com.

Individuals also have the opportunity to purchase Masq Madness VIP Sponsorship Packages starting at $750. These packages include tickets, placement of company logo on website and invitation, unlimited cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dessert bar as well as a one-on-one meet and greet with Yasmani Grandal.Partygoers can also reserve a room at the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter at www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com.

About ALTITUDE Sky LoungeAt 22 stories above street level, ALTITUDE Sky Lounge is the West Coast's highest open-air bar and a defining feature of the award-winning San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter hotel. With panoramic views of the city and San Diego Bay as well as a bird's eye view of PETCO Park, ALTITUDE Sky Lounge is a destination for signature cocktails and modern, casual fare in a relaxed environment sought after by in-the-know locals and tourists. Accolades include Travel + Leisure's "America's Top 30 Outdoor Bars," Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 25 Best Bars in the World," Sunset's "Top 10 Rooftop Bars in the West." ALTITUDE Sky Lounge is located at 660 K Street, San Diego, Calif. 92101 and via telephone at (619) 696-0234. Visit ALTITUDE Sky Lounge online at www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com/nightlife/altitude.

Jacksonville Jaguars OG Brandon Linder probably will start at center or right guard this season, according to head coach Gus Bradley. C Mike Brewster likely will start at center if Linder starts at guard, while OG Jacques McClendon likely would start at right guard if Linder wins the center job.

NEWS UPDATEBenjamin (knee) is hoping to return a few kicks during Monday's preseason matchup with the Redskins, the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

ROTOWIRE FANTASY ANALYSISBenjamin, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, has impressed the Browns' coaching staff thus far in camp. While he's hoping to expand his role outside of special teams, he'll first need to prove he's healthy enough to handle kick-return duties. Benjamin sat out last weekend's preseason opener against Detroit.

Jimmy Graham decided to protest the NFL’s decision to ban dunking on the goal posts on Thursday night, and the result was two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after he found the end zone twice. New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton chewed Graham out after the second penalty and told reporters after the game that he was upset with his tight end. Graham now sounds ready to give up his favorite celebration.

“For four years and however many touchdowns I always dunked it,” Graham said Sunday, per Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune. “I just got to stop doing that now.”

Graham, who literally bent the goal posts during a game against the Atlanta Falcons last season, is probably the reason the dunking celebration has been outlawed. While he said he wouldn’t take back Thursday’s dunks, he insisted he would never intentionally cost his team 15 yards during the regular season.

“I haven’t (been fined),” Graham said. “That’s just the rule, which is unfortunate because I just love the game. I have a lot of passion for the game. I go out there on Sunday and it’s fun for me. It’s just fun. Act like a little kid out there, and sometimes I act like it.”

Not surprisingly, it sounds like Payton has forgiven his franchise cornerstone.

“I’m his biggest fan,” Payton said. “I’m sure as we get going here that type of thing isn’t going to be a problem. Rules are changing constantly whether we like them or voted for them or any of those things. He’s outstanding. He’ll be ready to go.”

If the NFL is worried about Graham or anyone else bending the goal posts, they should reinforce them. The No Fun League needs more personality. Tell me Chad Johnson or Ochocinco or whatever you want to call him wasn’t entertaining when he was relevant. Let the entertainers entertain.

Lamar Miller managed three yards on three carries in the Dolphins' second preseason game Saturday night.

He did secure both of his targets for 20 yards, but Miami's offensive line continues to stumble, failing to clear running alleys. Through two preseason affairs, Miller has just 14 yards on seven carries (2.0 YPC). It's obviously a small sample size, one that should grow considerably in the third week of the exhibition season. Knowshon Moreno (knee) remains squarely in the picture.

Long after practice had ended Friday morning, Leonard Hankerson and Kirk Cousins walked to the far end of the main practice field at Redskins Park.

Cousins removed his helmet and grabbed a ball. And Hankerson, nearly nine months removed from left knee surgery, ran routes and caught passes from the backup quarterback for about 20 minutes.

The extra session marked a small but significant step in Hankerson’s rehabilitation process. The wide receiver, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list, said it was the most substantial work he’s done since tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee Nov. 17.

“I feel like I’m close,” Hankerson said. “It’s coming along, it’s coming along well. I just got to keep grinding, keep listening to the coaches, my strength and conditioning coach, doing what he’s telling me to do. And when he gives me the thumbs up, I’ll be ready to go.”

Hankerson spent all of training camp working on an auxiliary field, running routes and participating in agility drills. On Friday, he was running routes at nearly full speed.

As he enters his fourth season in the NFL, Hankerson said he is waiting to see orthopedic surgeon James Andrews and hopes to then be cleared to return to practice. However, he does not know when that meeting will occur.

“I’m still grinding right now,” Hankerson said, “and whenever they tell me that he’s available or he’s coming up or whatever, that’s when I’ll see him.”

While Hankerson has been relegated to the sidelines, a number of wide receivers have made the most of their opportunities in camp. Rookie Ryan Grant has drawn praise from the coaching staff for his crisp route-running ability. Aldrick Robinson has shown his speed down the field and improvement on intermediate routes.

If Grant, Robinson and veteran Santana Moss solidify their spots on the roster alongside DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts, Hankerson could be the odd man out. But he said that won’t push him to rush back to the field more quickly.

“That’s not a thought at all,” he said. “I mean, I went to the University of Miami. I always had guys come in every year. That’s part of your job. No matter what type of job you have. Somebody’s coming for your job. Somebody’s coming for my job. That’s just the nature of the game. I can’t worry about what’s going on when I’m not there. I just got to worry about what I can control and right now, that’s rehab.”

McCarthy sent two messages on Twitter: "Surgery went great. Now it's just the road to recovery." Earlier he posted: "Heading into surgery this morning. Want to thank everyone for (their) support and prayers during this time. It means a lot. Thank you."

The surgery was expected. McCarthy suffered the injury in last Saturday's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, and initial tests indicated he needed surgery. The fourth-year pro had been scheduled to get a second opinion.

McCarthy, a captain in 2012, was a fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2011. He started 19 of 36 games in his first three seasons, including five starts last year when he replaced injured Moise Fokou. (McCarthy had lost the starting job to Fokou in training camp.) Injuries have been a problem during his career, however. He was working with the second- and third-team defense in training camp.

The Titans are expected to place McCarthy, who's in the final year of his contract, on Injured Reserve.

The Redskins have ruled running back Chris Thompson and linebacker Darryl Sharpton out for Monday’s game against Cleveland because of ankle sprains. Defensive end Jason Hatcher, who is still working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery, also will not play.

Sharpton, competing for a backup inside linebacker position and a role on special teams, missed time earlier this week with a high ankle sprain. He returned to practice on Tuesday, but returned to the sideline for Thursday and Friday’s practices.

Hatcher wasn’t expected to play on Monday. He opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list after having his left knee scoped on June 20. He practiced for the first time last Saturday, but has continued to only take part in individual drills. The plan is to increase his workload next week. Gruden has said the third or fourth preseason games are more realistic target dates for Hatcher’s return.

Starting strong safety Brandon Meriweather is questionable for Monday’s game because of a toe injury. He missed the last two practices, but has not been ruled out for Monday. Second-year pro Bacarri Rambo played strong safety in place of Meriweather when the first team defense was on the field Thursday and Friday.

Former Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died in 2007 after being shot by intruders at his Miami area home, will be featured in NFL Network’s “A Football Life” documentary series this fall, a network spokesman confirmed. The hour-long program about Taylor is tentatively scheduled to air on Sept. 26; the network typically follows up such documentaries with additional programming, including further interviews and discussion.

This is the third straight year the series will include a prominent former Redskins star. In 2012, the network aired a John Riggins documentary, and last year’s topics included former tight end Jerry Smith.

The series, a production of NFL Films, “examines the untold stories of the most influential NFL icons with unprecedented access,” the network says in its promotional materials. “Each film tells the story of how their legacy is forever intertwined in the fabric of NFL history.”

Fans began speculating about a Taylor documentary in recent days, after NFL Network started airing “A Football Life” promos that included famous footage of the safety leaping into the end zone.

Taylor, of course, remains beloved in Washington, with fans frequently wearing his jersey and otherwise celebrating his career. The return of Ryan Clark this season has also meant more stories about Taylor, with Clark wearing Taylor’s No. 21 jersey during practice, as he has for years.

“People in Pittsburgh knew about it, and if you hear a fan ask me why I had a different number on, people who were there, who were at camp a lot, would explain to them, ‘Well, Sean Taylor, he was his friend, he played for Washington,’ ” Clark told reporters during training camp. “And so it always made people talk about him, it always struck up conversation about the player he was, about the man he was becoming. And so that’s exciting.

“Wearing it here is difficult,” Clark said. “There are some fans who never met Sean who say I shouldn’t wear it to practice. But I understand. That’s why they call them fans; they’re fanatics and they’re not always right in certain situations, so I don’t mind that. I just try to wear it and honor him. I know I’m not the player he was or the athlete he was, but he was my friend and I want people to remember him.”

Clark also often wears towels that pay homage to Taylor’s name and number.

“I’ve done it since he passed,” Clark said. “I know a lot of people may think it’s something new that I do now because I’m a part of the Redskins organization, but nah, this is for me. And this is an opportunity for me to remember a friend, an opportunity to get other people to remember a friend, and that’s why I do it. I’ve got about seven of these towels actually, different colors, and it’s part of me. I made a vow that as long as I was playing, he’d be playing somewhere, too.”

Frank Gore is a future Hall of Fame running back. There should be no debate. And that sentiment is not just because we received co-signage from San Francisco’s running backs coach Tom Rathman, the flat-top haircut, eye-black, neck-roll wearing fullback, who paved running lanes for 49ers Hall of Famer Roger Craig.

We make an early case for San Francisco’s current bell-cow runner because Gore’s numbers and contributions to a proud football organization deserve to be celebrated inside of pro football’s hallowed grounds. Some voters might look the other way and select players with greater statistical production during Gore’s playing era, but that opinion isn’t shared by the highly respected Rathman. The Hall of Fame voting process could be described as “peculiar at times,” according to one national football writer, but it doesn’t change the way the 49ers see their star player.

“If you look at some of the stuff he’s been doing the past four-five years; pass-blocking, run-blocking,” Rathman says, “I don’t think you see any other players at the position in the history of the game who have done that before. Not only statistically speaking, but doing the little things.”

Sure, Gore has the most carries (2,187), rushing yards (9,967), rushing touchdowns (60) and 1,000-yard rushing seasons (7) in team history. But can you even fathom the 49ers reaching the NFC title game in three consecutive seasons without the hard-charging running style of number 21? Not possible. Even with a reloaded receiving corps, Gore - a five-time Pro Bowler - figures to spearhead a large chunk of San Francisco’s offensive attack heading into 2014.

“Frank loves the game of football, and he loves being a part of a team; loves overcoming,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “It’s just been the story of his career, so why would it be any different now? He’s got a heart. You can’t measure how big his heart is. What does that mean? Well, what it means is every play he plays all out and with a great will.”

At 31, Gore wills himself to show liveliness on the practice field. In his mind, there’s no slowing down in his 10th season in San Francisco. Critics might question how much Gore has left in the tank, but nobody around the 49ers is wondering that. Gore pointed to how he approaches the challenge of maintaining his Pro Bowl-caliber play in the late stages of his career. It’s a welcomed opportunity to silence doubters, the same ones who wondered how the third-round draft pick in 2005 would recover from two major knee surgeries at the University of Miami.

“I knew from seven years on that I would hear that every year,” Gore said before the start of training camp, “It doesn't bother me. I train hard during the offseason, I practice hard during camp. I'm just trying to be the Frank Gore I have always been.”Rathman backs his player up in that regard.

“He hasn’t changed,” the coach says. “You watch him on the practice field and he’s practicing hard. He’s not getting a lot of reps because we have young guys who need reps, but he’s getting himself prepared. Physically he’s in shape and mentally he’s sharp. He’s right where he needs to be at this stage of camp.”

Gore continues to be a selfless, team-first contributor who loves the game and everything that comes with it. He values the sacrifice, the teamwork and the stage. Rathman sees a player who continues to thrive in the team setting. The more the 49ers have won under Jim Harbaugh, the more the leading rusher has grown to appreciate sharing touches on offense and being a key cog in Roman’s power-running system.

“It takes 11 guys being on the same page to win,” Rathman says. “I think that’s where he’s really grown, understanding that piece of the game.”

Gore’s contributions stretch beyond carrying the football. Look no further than last season’s Wild Card road playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. When Colin Kaepernick was breaking contain to torch the Packers defense on the ground, it was Gore who was throwing his body around with clutch open-field blocks to spring his athletic quarterback. Those plays didn’t go unnoticed in the film room.

Simply put, it’s why Gore is revered as a true “football player” by his teammates and coaches.

“He’s dynamic at run blocking,” Rathman says. “If you look at the film from last year, look at his cut-blocks downfield. He’s an all-around player. You have to love him. He’s good at everything. It’s great to have players like that.”

Rathman knows do-it-all running backs quite well. His college roommate, Craig, thrived in Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense, becoming the first player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season. Gore has never been used that way as a receiver, but he does have the chops to move the chains out of the backfield when needed. Either way, Rathman sees Gore as a determined runner just like Craig.

“I think you can put him in the same category,” Rathman says. “This guy is going on 10 years and will probably be over 10,000 yards. I don’t know how many players who were able to do that and play for one organization. He’s a great player. There have been other great players here at the position and Frank ranks up there with Roger.”

So will we see Gore continue his run of 1,000-yard seasons, going on three-straight years?

“Past performance often times predicts future success,” Harbaugh said. “Frank has been one of the top backs in the National Football League and I see that continuing. Frank gets football. Frank understands football. Frank keeps himself in tremendous shape.”

The dedication is coach-like. Gore could even become a valued teacher or evaluator once his playing career concludes and he celebrates a certain enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.

“I don’t think there’s any question about that,” Rathman says. “He’s got a great passion for the game. Any time you have passion for the game, he can do whatever he wants. You could see him as a scout or as a coach. He could hold his own meeting room and get up there and have confidence as he’s coaching because he knows it.

Everyone loves Matt Bosher. If we put aside his punting (for now), Bosher is well-known for his entertaining and hard-hitting prowess as a tackler, and he has put together several memorable plays without the mention of his punting leg. In addition, Bosher remains one of the better kick-off men in the league, ranking in the top-5 in touchback percentage in 2013, and that makes him extremely valuable.

From a punting perspective, 2013 was a good year for the 26-year-old Bosher, as he finished ninth in the NFL in punting average (46.6 yards per punt) and the overall unit finished sixth in the league in net punting (41.1 yards per punt). This is an area where the Falcons should not worry unless there is an injury to Bosher.

The Carolina Panthers released Steve Smith and let Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr. and Domenik Hixon leave via free agency. That leaves Greg Olsen and Richie Brockel as the only returning receivers – both tight ends – from last season’s team to record a catch. Brockel only had one catch, so Olsen is the only proven elite receiver on the roster.

Olsen is a proven reliable receiver with 381 receptions, 4,180 receiving yards and 36 receiving touchdowns in seven seasons while playing for the Chicago Bears and Panthers. He finished last season as the Panthers leading receiver with 73 catches, which also set a career-high in a season for him. He also posted the second most receiving yards (816) and touchdowns (six).

The Panthers acquired the 2007 first round draft pick from the Bears for a third round draft pick in the 2012 draft. Olsen and the Panthers agreed to a five-year contract extension, which is scheduled to end following the 2015 season.

Quarterback Cam Newton has yet to establish himself as a top tier passer in the NFL and not having Smith will force him to lean on Olsen more this season. Newton has thrown for 11,299 yards – decreasing steadily each year since his rookie season in 2011 – while completing 59.7 percent of his passes.

However, last season, he set a career-high for completion percentage (61.7) and touchdown passes (24). But, without Smith, Newton loses 216 of his 882 career completions (just under 24.5 percent).

“It’s kind of been the storyline of the offseason,” Olsen said in a phone interview on July 23 in the Charlotte Observer. “Any time the Panthers have come up that’s kind of been the first comment made by everybody. I think guys are just kind of tired of it. I think we feel confident about our group. I think people are eager to get (to training camp), get to work and put together what works for us as an offense.”

The Panthers signed wide receivers: former Philadelphia Eagle Jason Avant, former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerricho Cotchery, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Tiquan Underwood as well as former Baltimore Raven tight end Ed Dickson to reload the receiver group. They also drafted former Florida State Seminole Kelvin Benjamin of the 2014 NFL draft. Only Benjamin has the upside to be a featured receiver, but it will not be quick.

The Panthers offense does not want to rely on the pass, but needs to at some point to loosen the defense. The entire offense – even their quarterback – are run-first players, but being able to throw is a must in today’s NFL.

“It’s not a mystery. When we’re at our best, we’re a balanced offense,” Olsen also said in the July 23 phone interview. “We’re not going to throw the ball 60 times a game. We might not throw 50 touchdowns. But we’re going to win games, we’re going to control the game.

“The sum of our parts is going to be very productive.”

Olsen will be an integral part of the Panthers passing offense early in the season as Newton builds chemistry with his new wide receiver weapons.

All five running backs who were picked ahead of Gore in the 2005 draft.

"Then the 49ers drafted me," said Gore, the 65th pick of that draft, in the third round.

Just look at those names. Brown is the only other one still going, and he was out of work until the Texans signed him earlier this week. Vernand Morency, Ryan Moats and Maurice Clarett (!) were the next three backs to go. Those names seem like NFL relics, probably because in the world of a running back, they are.

And then there's Gore. He's 31 and says he feels great. He doesn't look like he's near the end, coming off an 1,128-yard, nine-touchdown season. On draft day in 2005 he lasted longer on the board than all five of those guys he remembers so well, and he's prideful that he'll likely be the last one of that group standing in the NFL.

"It's a blessing," Gore said. "That's why when I'm out here, I have fun. Because I've been up and I've been down, and I know it can be taken away from me."

It'll end at some point. One of these days the annual prediction will be right, and Gore will hit the wall. The 49ers are preparing, having drafted Marcus Lattimore last year, and Carlos Hyde in the second round this year. Gore's contract is up after this season. It's not hard to see where this might be headed.

Gore understands the possibilities. If he is bitter about the 49ers planning for life without him, he shows it in a strange way. After a practice at Levi's Stadium on Friday night, he stopped by the tunnel for a few minutes to sign autographs for fans who had come to watch. He spotted Hyde, and waved him over to do the same. It was a small moment, a respected veteran showing a rookie what he should do – and it just happened to be for a rookie who might have his job next year.

"I know what I can do," Gore said about the 49ers drafting Hyde. "God has me healthy and I know what I’m capable of doing. So why be mad at a guy who the organization brought in? Why not bring him on?"

Gore knows this might be his last season in San Francisco, although that hasn't been determined yet and the 49ers love the hard-nosed Gore. However, he understands the business side of the game.

"All I can do go out and try to be the same Frank Gore," he said about being in a free-agent year. "Show the organization I can play this game at a high level, and also show other teams, if I’m not here, someone else can have interest in me."

Whatever happens after this season will be figured out later. Like the rest of the 49ers, Gore has some unfinished business this season and some urgency to tend to it.

The 49ers have lost in either the NFC championship game or Super Bowl three straight years, all very close and very late losses. Gore has team records for carries (2,187), rushing yards (9,967), rushing touchdowns (60), but no championship ring.

"I want a Super Bowl," Gore said. "Before I leave this organization, I'd love to have a Super Bowl with this organization. Just to know what I've done here and I would love for it to be said when I'm done, 'Frank Gore, arguably probably was the best back here, and he got a ring here.'"

He brings up Roger Craig, who might have the best argument other than Gore for best 49ers back among those in the Super Bowl era, and immediately points out that Craig had three Super Bowl rings.
Meaning that he needs a ring too no matter what else he has done, although what he has done in his 49ers career has been fantastic.

“Frank is the most underrated football player – and this is not hyperbole – honestly that I’ve ever known,” 49ers legend Steve Young said on KNBR, via the team's website. “He’s a well-known player, but no one understands how great he really is. He’s one of the best backs I’ve ever seen or watch play."

If the 49ers finally get that Super Bowl ring, Gore will be a big reason why. San Francisco has an improving passing game with the incredibly talented Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, but the 49ers still want to be a tough, running team. And one of the reasons they've established that identity the past few years is Gore, who has evolved into a versatile back who takes as much pride in his blocking and receiving as his rushing yards.

He said he feels good at age 31. He works out with younger players back in Miami ("It keeps me honest, to know where I'm at," he said) and said he feels the same as he always has. At an age when most backs are deep into retirement, Gore has been remarkably durable. He hasn't missed a game in three seasons, with 877 regular-season touches and a lot of playoff action. That's pretty impressive for a player who slid in the draft because he had two knee surgeries at Miami.

However long Gore has left playing at a high level, or playing in San Francisco period, he again brings up the one thing left on his to-do list.

"I've played in a Super Bowl, NFC championship, but before I leave, I want God to bless me and my teammates and get us a ring," Gore said.

Yonder Alonso was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right forearm strain and now Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the first baseman has been ruled out for the rest of the 2014 season. Surgery might be coming.

Alonso, who also missed time in June and July because of right wrist issues, will finish 2014 with a disappointing .240/.285/.397 batting line and only seven home runs in 84 games. He earned National League Rookie of the Year votes in 2012 but hasn’t been able to build off that promising debut season in San Diego and the former first-round pick (seventh overall in 2008) turns 28 years old next spring. Alonso is going to be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

ST. LOUIS -- Jon Jay wore a bit of Cardinals' history on Saturday night after he was once again hit by a pair of Padres pitchers. The same thing had happened a day earlier, too, making Jay the franchise's only player in at least 100 years to be hit by multiple pitches in consecutive games.

The accomplishment, if it can be described as such, was last achieved in 2000 by Houston's Craig Biggio, who was hit by pitches 285 times in his career. That is second most in Major League history.

As for Jay's recent propensity to take pitches off his body?

"He's a magnet for whatever reason," manager Mike Matheny said. "There are guys who are crowding and won't budge. It seems to be down low, which is obviously where a lot of guys are trying to pitch him. When they miss, they pull it a little bit much. He doesn't mind getting on base, I know that."

Jay has been hit a Major League-most 14 times this season, equaling the number of plunkings he took last season. In 2012, Jay was hit 15 times, fifth most in the Majors.

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